The Mount Beerburrum trail is a bit steeper than Saddle Rock Trail at Scotts Bluff, rising about 530 feet in about 0.4 miles, as compared to our local ~460 feet in about 1.6 miles.

I recall that as we were huffing and puffing up the Mount Beerburrum slope, a woman pushing a baby jogger passed us – la la la – as easy as you please. I felt like such a wuss, but I reminded myself, “She probably does this every day. I’m a flatlander tourist. I have an excuse.”

Welllll . . . I can’t really use that excuse anymore, now that I have this fabulous natural training facility right in my community. I better get my butt out there more often, so the tourists don’t pass me by – la la la – and bruise my delicate ego.

A comparison:

A two-shot film panorama of the view from atop Mount Beerburrum.

A view of the shadow of Scotts Bluff creeping over town.

Chimney Rock, warmed in temperature and color by the unseasonably balmy winter sun.

On our way back down Scotts Bluff, a great horned owl started its evening territorial hooting.

The sun sank, and turned the clouds to cotton candy hues, with a vibrant smudge of indigo at the horizon.

Just before the light died, several gunshots rang out in the valley – the last salvo in the 2014-2015 goose season.

On our way home, we passed several flocks of geese browsing in the cornfields beside the road.

“Safe!” I shouted, making a subdued spread-handed baseball umpire gesture in the confines of the car.

I was glad they survived the hunting season. And glad I had an opportunity to get out and hike on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

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Katie Bradshaw

In her grown-up life, Katie has lived in five Midwestern university towns. She is getting to know her sixth adopted hometown, which is a bit further "west" than "mid" and is located 150 miles from the nearest university.